The Washington critic., 1887-05-30
DECORATION DAY.


your offerings, for these men died In
the exemplification Of the noblcst of
human virtues.
IT Is not long TO those who knew
them; II seems but yesterday that they
were blithely marching to the front
but vest, r.eve that the ragged and
rtken remnants OF their victorious
columns were mustered out,
Yet, twenty two years have come and
gone since Grant and Lee stood face to
face at Appomaitox and many who to-
day bring flowers for the graves OF our
heroic dead were then unborn.
The seplings thar shivcred In the
blast of battle have grown into sturdy
giants of the forest Time is rapidly
abrading rifle pit aud earlhwork of
their historic identity. On fields that
were scared with fire and trodden into
desola,Ion by contonding armies, the
plowmOn ctfaccs with the conqucsts of
peace the lingering landmarks of an
awful strife.
The lines of the long trenches In
which the dead who fell atield found
rude, but not uuconsecrated, sepulture,
are scarcely discernible, save that the
grass, perhaps, Is greener and the
daisies brighter. because of the sacred
dust beneath.
That stream near by, whose waters
were once turbid with march and coun.
termarch, has resumed Its pellucid flow.
Along Its untroubled shores, no longer
cut and gashed with cannon wheels or
feet Of hurrying squadrons, grow ferns
and mosses above 1t bend the elders
and willows.
The fording horsemen have ridden
out of sight. The echoes Of the rum.
bling artillery are lost In the distance.
Even the mighty oaks beyond, that
faced so many storms Of shot and
shell, have outgrown their scars.
On every hand the wreckage OF war
has disappeared. Ruin has given place
10 thrift; the spirit Of fratricidal con.
tention to the spirit of better brother
hood. The blood that was shed In yon-
der valley has fertilized the very earth,
causing 1t to TEEN with an unwonted
beauty.
Out of the powder smoke that crept
along the slope In sulphurous wreaths
has been evolved the subtle essence of
new life that makes all nature glad
again; and on every battle field is read
never to be forgotten lesson of duty
well done and valor well spent.
The leng,hening years but make the
lesson legacy, and all the more pre-
Cious as the years rccede.
1t Is well that II should be so, for the
Union trembled on the verge of catas-
trophe that would have undone the
glorious work of Its builders and made
our shattered liberties the jeer and
scorn of Old World despotisms.
1t was saved from the Valley Of
Humiliation by the valor and loyalty of
the men whose headstones you crown
to-day with immortelles. Is 1t not q
proud and priceless obligation to do
them such simple but such eloquent
honory They gave to the old flag,
without murmur, all that God had
ever given unto them.
Therefore, let their graves be deco.
rated with the flowers of each return
ing spring.
In this simple sign we find the assur-
ance Of grander future for the Re-
public.
In this tender sentiment we find the
vivifying principle of restored Union.
And while we go about these gentle
offices for the dead, may our intuitions
Of duty have full scope.
Let 1t be remembered that the blood
which so enriched the earth that 1t
brought forth sweeter flowers and
tenderer grasses and statelier forests,
was the blood of foemen who were
brothers all, and that out of their COM
mon libation have also grown those
manlier virtues that shall make them
henceforth one and undivided.
Be then the lilac blended with the
lily-the rose with the magnolia-the
laurel with the cypress-the apple
blossom with the orange flower; aud
Interviewing, overclimbing all, the
Glory of the Morning
THIS Is the twenty fifth anniversary y
of the day at Fair Oaks-Seven Pines,
the Confederates call the battle-when
General Joseph i. Johnston struck the
left Of McClellan's line In the swamps
of the Chickahominy and nearly swept
Kcyes' Fourth Corps back into the
swollen and turbulent stream. 1t was
very ungallant affair, for the attack
was made without giving any notice
whatever In advance, and member OF
COUGHS old division. who was there
that day, states positively that tue
affair so annoyed our troops that they
lost their dinners; The Confederate:
going SO far with their rudeness as tc
shoot the campkettles full of bullethole:
and let the soup run out into the fire
The next day Keyes and Sumner had
their Innings, and recovered all th(
ground lost May 30. and took GROUND
still further to the front, nearer Rich
mond.
No man was more fondly esteemed
among the newspaper fraternity o
Washington than Major Ben: PerleJ
Poore, and none will be more regret
fully missed. He was n gifted and
genial man. an honor to his profession
and an exemplary citizen.
/, THE Boston 7rdrellcr says that Colone
carroll d. Wright, United States Labor Com
tIIistioner, has not taken o vacation ID
light years. He has cool aud breezy
,lace at MaIblenead, and shortens bis hours